Governments of Canada and Ontario invest in public transit in Mississauga

MISSISSAUGA, ON, May 5, 2017 /CNW Telbec/ - Investing in public infrastructure supports efficient, affordable and sustainable transit services that help Canadians and their families get to work, school and essential services on time and back home safely at the end of a long day.

Today, the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Member of Parliament for Mississauga–Malton, on behalf of the Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, the Honourable Steven Del Duca, Ontario Minister of Transportation, and Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie announced 57 projects that will benefit Mississauga under the Public Transit Infrastructure Fund (PTIF). The federal government is providing up to 50 per cent of funding for these projects—more than $58 million.

On March 31st, Prime Minister Trudeau acknowledged the importance of public transit to Canadians as stated in Budget 2017 and announced approval of 312 projects across Ontario, including 51 of the 57 projects in Mississauga.

The PTIF projects include the acquisition of several 40-foot buses and 60-foot buses to replace older vehicles, the construction of 25 km of multi-use trails, bike lanes and signed routes to encourage cycling and walking to public transit stations, as well as making transit facilities more accessible. New buses will enhance the reliability of transit services for riders while other improvements will make getting across the city easier, faster and safer for transit users.

"The Government of Canada is working closely with the Government of Ontario and municipalities to invest in important transit initiatives that will strengthen communities across Ontario by growing the middle-class, fostering long-term prosperity and getting Canadians to their daily activities on time and home at the end of the day. Canadians today and into the future will benefit from the projects announced today, which will provide Mississauga residents with affordable and efficient public transit infrastructure."

The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Member of Parliament for Mississauga–Malton

"I am pleased to have a federal partner that shares the province's commitment to transit in making your daily commute faster and more convenient. This funding will benefit Mississauga and our entire community by increasing accessibility, adding new buses to the fleet, reconstructing trails for cyclists and pedestrians, and investing in technology to support the future of our transit system."

The Honourable Steven Del Duca, Ontario Minister of Transportation

"The Government of Canada has allocated unprecedented funding to help Canada's cities, like Mississauga, press ahead with important city-building priorities like breaking gridlock, building transit and strengthening our local economy. Through PTIF, Mississauga will receive $58 million in investments for 57 separate city-building initiatives. This year marks the 150th anniversary of Canada's founding. Canada's municipalities are the cornerstone of Confederation and these funding commitments are an opportunity for local governments to shape our nation's promising future."

Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie

Quick Facts

The Government of Canada will provide more than $180 billion in infrastructure funding over 12 years for public transit, green infrastructure, social infrastructure, transportation that supports trade, and Canada's rural and northern communities.

To support public transit, Budget 2017 proposes $25.3 billion. This amount includes $5 billion that will be available for investment through the Canada Infrastructure Bank.

Since 2004, the Government of Ontario has committed more than $3.7 billion to municipalities across the province through the provincial gas tax program. This funding supports municipal transit systems.

The Government of Ontario is making the largest infrastructure investment in hospitals, schools, public transit, roads and bridges in the province's history. To learn more about what's happening in your community, go to Ontario.ca/BuildON.

Backgrounder

Canada and Ontario announce funding for 57 public transit projects in Mississauga

A new list of transit projects has been approved under the Canada-Ontario Public Transit Infrastructure Fund (PTIF) agreement, which is designed to address key infrastructure priorities with a focus on repairing and upgrading existing facilities and assets.

The Government of Canada is providing Ontario with over $1.48 billion under PTIF, and will fund up to 50 per cent of the eligible project costs.

As part of the bilateral agreement with Ontario, the following 57 projects in Mississauga have been approved for federal funding amounting to more than $58 million.

Location

Project Name

Federal Funding

Anticipated Start Date

Mississauga

Building expansion to accommodate future growth and life cycle renewal (Malton Satellite Terminal)

$419,854

January 1, 2017

Mississauga

Lifecycle renewal/replacement of building systems to improve efficiency and to extend system useful life (City Centre Transit Terminal).

$88,892

January 1, 2017

Mississauga

Lifecycle renewal/replacement of building systems to improve efficiency and to extend system useful life (Edward J. Dowling Transit Facility)

Lifecycle renewal/replacement of mechanical and electrical upgrades to improve efficiency and to extend system useful life (City Centre Transit Terminal)

$1,245,752

January 1, 2017

Mississauga

Information Technology Project for Network Fiber Design and Construction for Transit and Traffic Site Connectivity to Build 100 New Nodes in Support of Advanced Transportation Management System (ATMS), Includes Replacement of any Degraded Fiber Infrastructure

$571,524

May 4, 2017

Mississauga

Information Technology Project for Switches and Routers for Transit and Traffic Voice and Data Communications to Support the New Network Fiber Design Required for the Advanced Transportation Management System (ATMS)